TFA3 1.2 – Out of Ammo
Looking for a target opportunity using target trilateration in RF spectrum was unique capability owned not only by EA-18G Growler. F-22 Raptor and F-35C Lightning II could also perform similar things using a better equipment set.
NGAD and Loyal Wingman CCA would also possess it, and this was the best set up as the Loyal Wingman would took the role to penetrate the hostile airspace, and lower the risk of losing a highly-trained pilot in case shit happened during the infiltration.
Some people had questioned why US Mil developed such passive tracking, when they already employed advance radar that could carry active search and track beyond what tech people from previous generation could imagine.
The answer was that, improving combat capabilities that would enable US assets to meet the aerial threat from hostile country in the most effective way, would always become primary interest of US Military’s chain of command.
In summary, unlike active search and track, in a passive target trilateration the strike aircraft won’t need to use their detectable radar emissions to target hostile aircraft. Meaning, radar receiver warning on the targeted aircraft won’t ring until it was too late to carry evasive maneuver. In short, it was another type of kill chains that was very hard to overcome. It’s not exaggeration to call it total silent killing when a 5th generation stealth fighter jet employed it.
As for TF Amethyst, even though so far they faced no aerial threat that was equipped with radar receiver warning, it didn’t mean that in future they won’t face such opponent. TF Amethyst higher-ups also believed that if they could study the opposing side and then created an effective way to defeat their way of fighting, then the opposing side would also be able to do similar things. Therefore, the more good cards TF Amethyst had in their disposal, the harder for the opposing side to counter it.
And so, Captain Mitchel guided the flock of 60 AIM-120C7, and he did it without employing radar guidance, but relying on the data link in White Rain. With ease he put the flock of Amraam at 3 km behind the inbound Riders, and 2000 meters higher, before letting Amraam internal seeker to go active, carried the target lock-on, and then dove and hit it fatally from behind.
With such a close terminal interception, even if the inbound Riders was equipped with radar receiver warning and managed to detect the radar lock from Amraam, they would still have almost no room or time to evade the incoming missile. In summary, all Amraam hit their designated targets and perfectly eliminate them.
“Winter Flight, we have good hits,” Captain Mitchel calmly radioed Winter Flight. “Thank you for the good work.”
[Winter One to White Rain 0-2, receive and understood, can we enter WVR?]
“You can. Go give them a good dog-rape.”
[Copy. We will give them a good dog-rape. Winter One over and out.]
Captain Mitchel then turned his gaze to the front seat, “Our job here is done, let’s get back to Woodpecker.”
“Copy,” Major Gloster casually replied, and then gained more altitude while making a gentle turn to the east.
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After receiving an order from Grand Commander Migal to launch air assault on Penna Hill, Count Folk immediately carried it personally. He had heard that his older brother, Duke Fogel, and Prince Portho surrendered to TF Amethyst even though their battle group still possessed sufficient strength to continue the fight.
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In his capacity as the second highest noble in his household Count Folk decided to use the aerial assault on Penna Hill as an opportunity to wash clean the shame on his household that Duke Fogel had smeared. Other than that, he also carried a hope that maybe Makai Royal Palace would strip Duke Fogel’s tittle and handed it over to him if he perform a huge merit for them.
And so, under the vast blue sky Count Folk led a flight of 420 Riders from Sutt Region and smaller Regions around it. Most of these Riders were just new graduates and possessed zero combat experience, but Count Folk believed that their number would enough to compensate it. Not to mention, the assault on Penna Hill would be carried out by almost 1700 Riders that approached from four separates direction in tight turn.
‘We will overwhelm and break apart their defense, and then carry an easy peasy indifferent massacre,’ Count Folk happily muttered before sending a message to his first son through crystal communicator, “How is our right formation?”
[Solid and firm,] Count Folk’s son firmly replied. [Give us the order, and we will flank and hit our target before they can blink.]
“Take it easy son,” Count Folk said, still in happy tone. “You will not flank anyone today. We will just hit our target directly from front, along with other assault group.”
[Underst---.]
Bo-Bo-Boboboboooooommm!!!
Count Folk’s son couldn’t finish his words as without warning an Amraam suddenly exploded just a meter above his head. Then, the annular blast fragmentation expanded into a big and sharp ring, and cut him and his Cloud Hawk like a hot knife cut a block of butter. Fifty nine young Riders under his command also met with similar fate, while the dozens other suffered various degree of wound from the series of rapid explosion.
When Count Folk turned his gaze to check what had happened to his son, all he could see was a huge number of Cloud Hawks from the right formation fell from the sky while leaving a big trail of black smoke. He also noticed that some Riders and his Cloud Hawks were cleanly being cut into two burning pieces.
‘W-w-what had happen?’ Count Folk muttered while horror filled his face to the brim.
Wasting no time Count Folk took his Cloud Hawk to find his son’s body. After some search he found it. It was headless body, being cleanly cut at the upper back right below shoulder, and even after hitting the ground it was still burning fiercely, but Count Folk recognized it right away from his son’s body armor.
While his heart was broken into pieces Count Folk got off from his Cloud Hawk, but he got another surprise before he could recover his son’s body.
Bo-Bo-Bo-Boooooommm!!!
Another chain of explosions took place in the sky, hitting and killing his Riders in rapid pace. Count Folk could only gape in terror as his Riders powerlessly became a flock of prey for six giant flying arrowheads that came out of nowhere.
The giant flying arrowheads would dive and launched a fire spear or continues fire arrows on his Riders, and then with ease would climb back to the high sky before diving again in other place. Their aim was so accurate to the point his Riders couldn’t avoid it no matter what evasive maneuver they perform.
‘Oh gods who reside in heaven, what kind of enemy we have provoked,’ Count Folk muttered weakly.
---
Talon laser-guided rocket could hit top speed of 700 m/s, and firing it while in nose dive would increase it further. In summary, it would be very hard to dodge Talon when it came to you from above. This was also the main reason why Major Gilmore and his pack chose vertical ambush to maximize Talon hit rate.
As for situational awareness, Major Gilmore and his men didn’t rely only on Super Hornet’s radar. They also took cue from ground radar in Jack Sparrow. Therefore, their situational awareness increased from just 140 degree in front of their nose to 360 degree and almost at all altitude.
And so, Winter One could carry the ambush in the most effective way possible. They eliminated the opposing Riders one-by-one in rapid pace. Unfortunately, they could only carry fire power in limited amount, and had to retreat as soon as they run out of ammo.
“Damn,” Major Gillmore weakly cursed as he fired the last burst from Super Hornet’s M61 Vulcan.
The shot perfectly nailed an opposing Cloud Hawk at its back and crashed it to the ground, but it was Winter One last kill for the ambushed. The other Super Hornets had already returned to Woodpecker.
“Winter One to July September, do you copy?”
[Loud and clear, go ahead Winter One.]
“I’m out of ammo and returning to Whitepark to rearm and refuel.”
[Copy, and thank you for the air cover.]
“Good luck, and hang in there until we are back for second sortie.”
[No worry, July September will survive.]
“Glad to hear you are in high spirit, Winter One over and out.”
Wasting no time Major Gillmore took his Super Hornet to bank hard to the east and then darted in full throttle. He had to hurry and every second counted.
*****